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Writer's pictureLisa Chadsey
Oct 28, 2022

Let's talk about your Gut Health!



The phrase on everyone's lips - Gut Health


Let’s talk about the subtle inner workings of your body that make or break how you feel and how you look everyday!


Oh yes, that phrase that everyone has been saying for the past few years that has now become common knowledge. Take care of your “gut health".


“The gut, also known as the large intestine, contains trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. It houses around 60% of your immune system, produces the bulk of neurotransmitters, impacts your metabolism, and contributes to your overall health.” (Article 3.)


I’m very passionate about this subject, because I believe that holistically looking at your health is what brings you the most happiness and success. When you can start to pair your diet, exercise, and tools like light therapy together, suddenly you have exactly what you need to care holistically for yourself.


Here are some quick key-terms for you:


Gut-Microbiome - This is where your body houses important bacteria in your digestive tract. These little guys - which can be almost 200 unique species of bacteria, viruses, and fungi - help you break down food and turn nutrients into things your body can use for more energy, strength, and beyond.


“Each person has an entirely unique network of microbiota that is originally determined by one’s DNA.” (Article 2.) So each person will have a unique experience with food and dietary needs.


Probiotics - Found in some foods, these are “good” bacteria like the ones already in your gut. They can add to the bacteria in your intestinal tract and help keep everything in balance so your body has what it needs to breakdown foods.


How can you recognize the problems in your gut?


If you recognize that you are experiencing mood swings, lower energy, inflammation, and a general fuzziness in how you operate day-to-day.


“Gut issues often bring about neurological symptoms such as brain fog, poor focus, poor memory, anxiety, and depression.” (Article 3) If you remember that you used to be able to think more clearly and currently are struggling, this can often be because your gut health is being impacted.


What health problems can come from having poor gut health (aka, a leaky gut):

  • Problems with your immune system (this can lead to autoimmune diseases)

  • Exacerbation of mental health disorders

  • Endocrine disorders

  • Gastrointestinal disorders

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Cancer


What can I do to help my gut?


Eat the right foods!

You know what I’m talking about - each simple and clean food that your body can process. On top of that, you can introduce powerful foods like probiotic foods to help your gut bacteria:


“Probiotic foods contain beneficial live microbiota that may further alter one’s microbiome. These include fermented foods like kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, pickled vegetables, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, miso, and sauerkraut.” (Article 2.)


“The microbiota of a healthy person will also provide protection from pathogenic organisms that enter the body such as through drinking or eating contaminated water or food.” (Article 2.)


Basically, when your gut is healthy, you get sick less often and your body can naturally protect you against food poisoning, and beyond.


Move your body more!

Moving is important to help your body flow better, build muscle, strengthen itself and allow things to flow naturally.


Get more sleep!

This allows your body to reset every night and gives your liver time to filter and clean out your body so you can start each day refreshed.


Manage your stress levels!

Find time to wind down and reduce the levels of cortisol in your system. Allow your body to spool down from stress so it can refocus on healing itself.



How does light therapy help with Gut Health?


Here are two core things that happen during a Low-Level Light Therapy session that help with your gut health:

  1. It reduces inflammation within your body, allowing it to clear out toxins, remove built-up cellular waste, and infection to allow for your body to naturally circulate as it needs to. It also supports healthy blood flow to areas of your body, like your immune system. This ability for your body to clear out toxins helps your gut repair itself and get back to fostering the correct bacteria, viruses, and fungus.

  2. When your body absorbs red/near-infrared light energy, it simulates a photochemical reaction within your mitochondria that increases ATP production and cell signaling. Basically, it gives your body the energy it needs to regulate itself and focus its efforts on healing and repairing the damage that occurs by your body fighting itself. Red light therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that uses different types of light to stimulate new growth of nerves and tissue and help relieve pain especially in the gut where the light can penetrate in to help your body heal.


What does the science say?


“The human microbiome is intimately associated with human health, with a role in obesity, metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, and divergent diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The microbiome can be changed by diet, probiotics, and faecal transplants, which has flow-on effects to health outcomes. Photobiomodulation has a therapeutic effect on inflammation and neurological disorders (amongst others) and has been reported to influence metabolic disorders and obesity.” (Article 4.)


The following information if referenced from Article 3:


The gut-brain axis links the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Red light energy applied to the abdomen area can therefore influence mood and neuropsychological issues by:

  • reducing bowel inflammation and gut spasms

  • stimulating neurotransmitters and hormones in the gut, including serotonin, leptin, and ghrelin

  • modulating the microbiome which is sensitive and responds to light

  • modulating the vagus nerve which plays an important role in stress and social communication

  • increasing blood circulation and reducing blood pressure, which leads to reduced anxiety and brain fog

  • the increasing availability of neurotransmitters that activate the brain’s immune system.


If you know that your gut health needs some extra love and you want to talk more, call me at 720-219-2990 and let's talk more!


Lisa Chadsey


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If you want to learn more about Light Therapy & my Light Therapy work, you can follow me with the links below, or email me at Lisa@lightmattersinfo.com - thank you for reading!


Instagram | Lightswithlisa

Facebook | Light Matters Therapy

Youtube | Lights With Lisa



Here are the articles I've referenced above:



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